Former Utah State, BYU coach LaDell Andersen dies at 90

LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Former Utah State basketball coach and athletic director LaDell Andersen has died at 90, the school said. He had also coached at BYU.

Andersen, who lived in St. George, died on Sunday, the school said.

He coached Utah State to two Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight appearance.

A former walk-on, Andersen lettered for the Aggies from 1949-52 and was their coach from 1961-71. He served as the school’s athletic director from 1973-82.

He coached the Aggies to five appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including the program’s lone trip to the Elite Eight in 1970, where they lost to eventual national champion UCLA. Utah State also made the NIT in 1967.

Andersen was the third-winningest coach in school history at 173-96. He also coached five All-Americans, including Wayne Estes, Cornell Green, Shaler Halimon, Marvin Roberts and Nate Williams.

He coached the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association for two seasons before returning to the Aggies as athletic director. While AD, he oversaw the expansion of the football stadium by 10,000 seats, lobbied for the school’s admission into the Big West Conference and established the women’s athletic program, which produced national titles in volleyball and softball.

Andersen coached BYU for six seasons from 1983-89, leading the Cougars to a 114-71 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances.